It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 3:15 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 42 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3
Author Message
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:47 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:53 am
Posts: 5189
Location: Magnolia, Texas (just north of Houston)
ZZDoc wrote:
Quote:
Oh no...don't get me wrong, the GC closest to me is run by the Devil and has little demon spawns selling their gear. I just choose not to go in there very often, and if I do, it is to see if a miracle has happened.

Their 12 month interest free credit card can be a great advantage, as are their 15%/30% discount deals. But if a back order situation is going to get blown out of the water because of the system, a shop -around-and compare is a definite must. I couldn't ever trust something like that to them again.


I do not use credit cards...took me too long to get out from under the debt I married into and I think credit cards are just over-rated. I carry a debit card only. I just save money to pay for what I want when I have the money for it. No interest, no store card to carry around, and most of all, no temptation.

I do like 15 to 30 percent deals, but if the service is bad or instruments are on back order, discounts are useless in my opinion. Like I mentioned I do not mind paying the MSRP for instruments if the service is good.

If you like your Guitar Center; and there are some good ones out there (I have been in them before), continue to use them. If you do not have a choice and they have bad service, I am sorry.

I agree visit as many stores as you can to get the best deal you can...even if it is from a store you may not like.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:58 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:13 pm
Posts: 1633
I dont really care about the name on the front of the store, The VA Beach GC seems to have friendly enough techs and salespeople who are pretty knowledgable, so it suits me

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 3:08 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 5:18 pm
Posts: 575
ZZDoc wrote:
Quote:
Oh no...don't get me wrong, the GC closest to me is run by the Devil and has little demon spawns selling their gear. I just choose not to go in there very often, and if I do, it is to see if a miracle has happened.

Their 12 month interest free credit card can be a great advantage, as are their 15%/30% discount deals. But if a back order situation is going to get blown out of the water because of the system, a shop -around-and compare is a definite must. I couldn't ever trust something like that to them again.


It seems though when any music store has a discount "deal," none of the good brands participate or are allowed on the discount. So for me, what's the point of a discount if you can't use it on what you want? Not big on credit cards from stores either. Their interest rates are through the roof, even more than regular ones. If you have to get a credit card, get one with rewards so you can get cash back if you make a lot of purchases.

_________________
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

My dad said, "I'm going to miss you."
I said, "Well, now that I broke that sight off your rifle..." (Emo Philips)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 9:41 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Their credit card is a zero interest deal for 12 mos w/the fond hope that you'll run over. That has never happened with me. Just saves me a lump sum payout which can be a convenience at times. On this go 'round, I got the deal on Fender. Didn't ask questions. So big deal....it didn't happen. But the other dealer honored the quote.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:57 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 am
Posts: 2573
Location: Laurel, MD
Don't with Wal- I mean GC!

I've had good and bad experiences. I will say that GC does usually give you the best price. Their next biggest competition is Musician's Friend.

I've had some great deals and not so great deals. My advice: Get to know them like your best friend, but not too cheesy. Better yet know someone who actually works in the story. I've gotten 2 great deals from just knowing someone who used to work in the store.

Paris


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:00 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:23 am
Posts: 833
paris wrote:
Don't with Wal- I mean GC!

I've had good and bad experiences. I will say that GC does usually give you the best price. Their next biggest competition is Musician's Friend.

I've had some great deals and not so great deals. My advice: Get to know them like your best friend, but not too cheesy. Better yet know someone who actually works in the story. I've gotten 2 great deals from just knowing someone who used to work in the store.

Paris

Are they not affiliated companies?

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:27 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Quote:
Better yet know someone who actually works in the story.

In my case, the two people I did business with for years are gone. One transferred west, and the other to parts unknown. Yet I still maintain that the major fault lies in this online ordering system of theirs. There should be a cross referencing system such that the sales force can check an updated list of the status of all their orders at will.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:28 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:10 pm
Posts: 83
Location: New York City
jguitarnash wrote:
As I think about it, I have rarely ever really received good service at any store. From Guitar Center to Gruhn's, Sam Ash to Mom & Pop shops, they often have this in common- they want your $ and often the salesman want to prove to you how smart they are or great on guitar they are. If you ask an honest question you have, they seem to just make up answers too. (not just at GC)


There's a vintage guitar shop called Lark Street Music by where I live, and the guy Buzz who works there has always been really good to me. I never bought a thing from him in my life, but he had no problems with me trying out the guitars... "This one is the 62 strat... this one is the 58... Wanna try out the 58?" Just pulled it down and handed it to me. So awesome.

I played a 65 tele in candy apple red there that had the greatest neck I have ever played on still to this day. It was a large U that was worn down asymmetrically on the bottom side with playing... I had never in my dreams felt anything like that before or since. I found pics of it on the site: http://www.larkstreetmusic.com/list/pict/65car.jpg

So you never know.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 10:17 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Quote:
There's a vintage guitar shop called Lark Street Music by where I live.

I have a colleague who lives in that town. I've known about the place for years but have never had the occasion to get across the river to acquaint myself personally. It would have to be a Sunday, and it would be a 70 mile round trip for me, but I hear good things.
Some day we are going to have to put out a call to all the NY-metro people and see if we can assembly a gathering of eagles. :wink:
I've done this in Florida to a very limited extent but am hoping to increase the reach of a circle of Forum friends with common interests.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 10:39 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2009 1:09 pm
Posts: 378
Bathead wrote:
paris wrote:
Don't with Wal- I mean GC!

I've had good and bad experiences. I will say that GC does usually give you the best price. Their next biggest competition is Musician's Friend.

I've had some great deals and not so great deals. My advice: Get to know them like your best friend, but not too cheesy. Better yet know someone who actually works in the story. I've gotten 2 great deals from just knowing someone who used to work in the store.

Paris

Are they not affiliated companies?


Yes MusiciansFriend, Guitar Center, and Music123 are all affiliated companies. For me, I would rather order from Musiciansfriend because I do not have to pay taxes on the purchase. Since we have a Guitar Center here in Alabama, when I order from their web site, I have to pay taxes on the purchase. I already made that mistake last year when I bought my Les Paul. I ended up paying around $300 in taxes.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:10 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:10 pm
Posts: 83
Location: New York City
ZZDoc wrote:
Quote:
There's a vintage guitar shop called Lark Street Music by where I live.

I have a colleague who lives in that town. I've known about the place for years but have never had the occasion to get across the river to acquaint myself personally. It would have to be a Sunday, and it would be a 70 mile round trip for me, but I hear good things.
Some day we are going to have to put out a call to all the NY-metro people and see if we can assembly a gathering of eagles. :wink:
I've done this in Florida to a very limited extent but am hoping to increase the reach of a circle of Forum friends with common interests.


Oh dude it's ON. Let's do it.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 12:37 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
supah wrote:
ZZDoc wrote:
Quote:
There's a vintage guitar shop called Lark Street Music by where I live.

I have a colleague who lives in that town. I've known about the place for years but have never had the occasion to get across the river to acquaint myself personally. It would have to be a Sunday, and it would be a 70 mile round trip for me, but I hear good things.
Some day we are going to have to put out a call to all the NY-metro people and see if we can assembly a gathering of eagles. :wink:
I've done this in Florida to a very limited extent but am hoping to increase the reach of a circle of Forum friends with common interests.


Oh dude it's ON. Let's do it.

I'll keep the future eye on it. The last time I threw out an invite, when a West Coast member was going to be in town, there was really no response. The only interested party had a conflict that evening. We'll play it by ear.

Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 42 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3
Go to page Previous  1, 2, 3

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: